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Defending Labor Rights: A Smart Investment

As Special Representative for International Labor Affairs, I work along with colleagues in the Department of State's Office of International Labor Affairs to advance dialogue among workers, their unions, employers, and governments. As Secretary Clinton so eloquently stated in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on July 13, "So defending these labor rights and improving working conditions is a smart economic investment, but it's also a very important value." On this occasion of Labor Day, I express my gratitude for both the contributions and sacrifices made by working people in the United States and around the globe.

Comments

Comments

Eric

|

New Mexico, USA

September 3, 2012

Eric in New Mexico writes:

Happy Labor day folks, just another day for another dollar, strugglin' for the legal tender in stormy seas of debt....

I was talking with a chair not too long ago, an invisible president sitting in it, "What up doc?" he asked me.

"Don't give me that carrot and stick routine Mr. President as this ain't no loony tune cartoon feature sir, so where's all the freekin' jobs sir?""Welcome to my nightmare Eric" , he said, "I was wondering the same thing. Apparently Congress misappropriated them.""Well sir, I know my 82 year old mom wants to vote them all out of office, so I hear ya mam, tis a truly dysfunctional body politic.""Bane of my existance." the chair replied.

"I didn't know chairs could think." I said.

"It's not paid to think." replied the President.

"#^$@^&*(#""I can't do that to myself, and #&%#@ you if you think you can %#^#@@ me, you CHAIR you!""It's ok Mr. President, he's just gotten a "woodie" on I guess.""*^$&^#$&%!""Hey CHAIR!" I replied, "Don't be thinking you can do that to my mother, I'll turn you into kindling.""Yo Eric, you know a way out of this economic conundrum and partisan gridlock?""Well now that you mentioned that Mr. President, you could always change the nature of the conversation by billing Iran $32 trillion for the last 32 years they've been chanting 'Death to America'.""MMMmmm, let me get back to you on that.""No complaint without solution, Mr. President.""If only I could get Congress to take your attitude, we'd already be back in the black, Eric."

Well, thank you that and for this interview Mr. President. You can leave the chair, I got a wood stove just dying to meet it.""My pleasure, and I'll pass your suggestion on to the American people and see what they think about it."" They'll think you crazy, desperate, or electineering Mr. President".

"My insanity has purpose then.""Attitude is everything, Mr. President""Tell that to the chair, it could use an adjustment.""I'm planning on inspiring it to think sir, have a nice day.""You too."